Emma Jane Holdsworth: The light she carries

Emma Jane Holdsworth on Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam, August 2025. Gown, Manuel Tiscareno from The Confessional Showroom NYC. Earrings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

Inside the luminous Hudson Yards Loft, the Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam editorial shoot unfolded like a symphony of elegance and intention. For nearly ten hours, Emma Jane Holdsworth embodied look after look with quiet power and grace. Over 3.000 photographs were taken, each a portrait of transformation, emotion, and presence. “It wasn’t just about capturing pretty images”, Emma says. “It was about creating something that felt iconic”. The pace was exacting, the energy electric. “It kept me locked in and present from start to finish”.

Every detail, light, texture, mood, was carefully considered. “There were moments where I caught my reflection and barely recognized myself in the best way. That’s the power of fashion when it’s done with purpose”. For Emma, the shoot became more than a professional milestone. “That day in New York wasn’t just a shoot. It was a reminder of why I do this, the connection, the transformation, the storytelling”.

Gown, Manuel Tiscareno from The Confessional Showroom NYC. Earrings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

A foundation of grit

Emma Jane Holdsworth hails from Oshawa, Ontario (Canada), a place, as she describes “that doesn’t usually show up in glossy spreads or runway cities”. Yet it’s where she first learned resilience.

“I didn’t come from anything polished or pre-packaged. My upbringing taught me how to hold my own, how to move through the world with intention, and how to tune out the noise”.

While modeling is often seen as a world of surfaces, Emma brings a rare depth. “Modeling can sometimes feel surface level, but where I come from taught me how to move with weight. I carry a different kind of presence because of the real life I’ve lived before any of this. It’s what grounds me, especially in an industry that can sometimes forget to look deeper”.

Gown, Haleia from The Confessional Showroom NYC. Shoes, Sarah Palmer Italy. Earring, Doves by Doron Paloma.

Her fascination with fashion began early, inspired by Shalom Harlow.

“She was this graceful force of nature in fashion, and the fact that she came from my same hometown made it all feel possible. Like maybe I could belong here too”. Emma’s own journey mirrored Harlow’s, she was scouted in Toronto.

“Something clicked. Modeling has always felt like this visual language that lets me speak without words. There’s emotion and softness and strength all at once. It’s never been about being seen for the sake of it. It’s about expressing something real. That drive still pushes me through the early call times, the travel, the casting rejections. It keeps me connected to why I started”.

Emma has worked across cities like Milan and Toronto, but New York left the deepest impression. Its energy, chaotic, electrifying, and unrelenting, demanded more of her. “It’s a city that doesn’t hand anything to you, you have to rise to meet it”, she reflects. It taught her to move faster, speak with clarity, understand her own value, and keep showing up even when nothing felt certain. In New York, she stopped waiting for permission and learned to claim her place with intention.

Gown, Nardos. Earrings, Doves by Doron Paloma. Bracelet, Cartier.

Among her most treasured achievements is shooting with Chanel Beauty. “It felt really personal. It wasn’t just another job. There’s something about working with a brand like Chanel that just feels different. The history, the elegance, the legacy. You feel it the second you walk onto set. You know you’re stepping into something with meaning”.

She remembers that morning vividly: “I remember feeling calm and focused. The energy on set was quiet but strong. Everyone moved with care. It felt intentional. There was no pressure to perform or pretend. They wanted me for me. That kind of trust, especially from a brand like Chanel, is rare. And it meant a lot”.

Gown, CD Greene.Rings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

Emma Jane Holdsworth: Grace through challenge

Behind the camera’s glamour lies an unforgiving reality. One of the hardest lessons she had to learn in this industry is “that not everything is about you. In the beginning, rejection hit me really hard. I used to take it personally because I gave so much of myself to every casting, every opportunity. But the truth is, it’s rarely ever personal. It’s timing. It’s the mood of the brand. It’s the client’s vision. It’s a million things that have nothing to do with you”.

“What I’ve learned is that the only thing you can really control is how you carry yourself through it. How you hold your confidence. The best models I’ve worked with aren’t just beautiful, they know how to protect their energy. They know how to stay steady even when things don’t go their way”.

Change is coming, however, and Emma is hopeful. “Lately I’ve been really inspired by what’s happening in New York with the Fashion Workers Act. It just went into effect and it’s a huge shift for people in this industry”. The law now requires modeling agencies to actually register with the state and follow clear rules. Models have to get written contracts before jobs. Agencies have to be transparent about fees and they can’t charge random hidden costs. And models now have the right to say yes or no to how their image is used digitally or with AI.

Gown, Reem Acra. Earrings and rings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

Fashion that matters

Emma approaches fashion with both intention and integrity. For her, sustainability isn’t a passing trend, it’s a responsibility. “This industry still has a long way to go”, she reflects, “but I deeply respect brands that are transparent about what they’re doing and why”.

As a model, she seeks to align herself with work that is not only visually compelling but also purpose-driven, collaborating with people who are mindful of their impact and unafraid to ask difficult questions about how things are made and who is affected along the way.

Gown, CD Greene. Rings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

To Emma, sustainable fashion encompasses multiple dimensions: using higher-quality materials like organic cotton or recycled fabrics, innovating without unnecessary waste, ensuring fair labor practices throughout production, and designing garments that endure, pieces that don’t need to be replaced with every passing season. Transparency is key, she notes, allowing people to make informed, meaningful choices about what they wear.

“I believe real change begins with individuals”, she says. Curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to choose better, even when it’s not the easiest route, are, to her, powerful tools for progress. It’s not about perfection, she emphasizes, but about thoughtfulness. Emma holds a quiet conviction that fashion can be more than beautiful; it can be better, for people, for the planet, and for the future.

Gown, CD Greene. Rings, Doves by Doron Paloma.

Emma Jane Holdsworth: Beyond the Lens

Emma’s goals stretch far beyond the frame. “I want to keep growing in high fashion. I want to do more beauty campaigns, more global work that challenges me and brings me to new places. I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what I’m capable of”.

“But I also know I won’t be modeling forever, and that’s something I think about too. I’ve started to feel this pull toward creating something that’s mine. I want to eventually write a book. Something that holds everything I’ve learned, everything I’ve felt but maybe never said out loud. Not just about modeling, but life, love, pain, transformation. I’ve lived a lot of lives already, and I feel like there’s a story in all of it. I want to leave something behind that means something. Something someone else can hold onto when they need it most”.

Top, Saint Chic. Skirt, Celeste Victoria from Flying Solo PR. Bracelet, Cartier. Earrings, Doves by Doron Paloma. Shoes, Christian Louboutin.

Her style reflects her values: balance, strength, and softness. It’s best embodied by a combination of denim and silk. “Denim is classic, it gives structure. It’s what I reach for when I want to feel grounded and effortless at the same time. There’s just something about a good pair of jeans that makes you feel like yourself. Silk, on the other hand, brings softness and ease. Denim and silk together, that’s probably the most ‘me’ combo there is”.

Top, Saint Chic. Skirt, Celeste Victoria from Flying Solo PR. Bracelet, Cartier. Earrings, Doves by Doron Paloma. Shoes, Christian Louboutin.

Emma Jane Holdsworth’s best runway advice

Holding your frame with intention shifts your energy outward, while breath draws you inward, centering you in the moment and calming performance tension. For Emma, that balance of strength and softness is what transforms a walk into something powerful and magnetic.

As for her signature pose, it’s always intentional. “Even when it looks effortless, there’s always thought and feeling behind it”, she explains. Every movement is considered, from the subtle lift of her chin to the way she places her hands. She believes true connection in a photo happens when emotion is present. “I want to say something without saying anything”.

Gown, Bibhu Mohapatra. Rings, Doves by Doron Paloma. Bracelet, Cartier.

When she’s not in front of the camera, Emma escapes to her favorite place on Earth. “Astir Beach in Athens, Greece. It’s hands down one of my favorite places I’ve ever been. I’ve celebrated my birthday there and made some of the best memories with my closest friends”.

To those just beginning, Emma shares wisdom forged in experience. “Don’t wait for someone to validate you. Know your worth before you walk into any room. There’s a lot of noise in this industry, and if you don’t have a strong sense of self, it’s easy to lose your voice. Protect your energy. Stay professional, stay kind, but also don’t be afraid to take up space.